Filed under: Budget , Sedan , Performance , Toyota , Australia , Rumormill Sources in Australia are reporting that we’ll be seeing a small, rear-drive sedan from Toyota , based on the GT 86/ Scion FR-S . Yes, a convertible variant is still in limbo, but a four-door sedan is in the works. It’s unclear if the rumored GT 86 sedan would spawn Scion and Subaru variants (it’s hard to cross all ten fingers while you type, but we’re having a go). Working with remarks made by the car’s chief engineer Tetsuya Tada in his blog and a rendering from Japanese magazine Holiday Auto , the Australian site Motoring is claiming that the new model’s wheelbase will grow about four inches over the current GT 86’s 101.2-inch wheelbase. Besides the larger overall space between the axles, the sedan will offer a more potent engine option over the current 2.0-liter, flat-four. Promising 268 horsepower, which is a big jump over the current car’s 200 ponies, the new powertrain will be derived from the Hybrid R setup , shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. If, like us, you’re reaching for the salt, and we don’t blame you. Motoring seems to think the new model will be available later in 2015 or early in 2016, with pricing that should be within reach of current GT 86 owners (around 30,000 Australian dollars, or $28,371). Toyota to offer sedan version of GT 86? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Oct 2013 11:15:00 EST.

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Scion , Subaru , Toyota The Sydney Morning Herald has spoken to Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer of the Toyota 86 (our version of it, the Scion FR-S , is pictured above), and they’ve been promised that more power is on the way. We’ve heard a lot of speculation about a more powerful Toyobaru since before the standard model was even launched. The only question now is how the power will be delivered, and among the engine concepts we’ve already heard about – turbo, supercharger, twin-charged, hybrid – is a new one: more displacement. Tada said that an engine with more displacement than the current coupe’s 2.0 liters is being tested alongside a turbocharged and a hybrid-assisted motor. The SMH cites “inside sources” as saying the displacement option is the one likely to get the go-ahead, and suggests increased bore and stroke will see the engine grow to 2.5 liters, horsepower to about 250 – a 50-hp increase over the present car. While that’s apparently the betting man’s solution for the long-awaited increase in gumption, what happens with the next generation could be more wide open than we suspected. According to the report, Tada “hinted that [a successor] could be a radically different car, potentially dropping the boxer engine altogether.” He said once they’ve sorted out the concept for the second generation car, then they’ll sort out an engine. That’s where a turbo option could come to market, perhaps the turbocharged four-cylinder Toyota is developing for the Lexus NX crossover or a hybrid system that uses a capacitor. This leaves us wondering what, if anything, will happen with the (presumed) next generation of the Subaru BRZ . But for now, the cavalry – more horses – is on the way for the current generation, one way or another.

Filed under: Convertible , Coupe , Performance , Europe , Hatchback , Mercedes-Benz , Porsche , Scion , Subaru , Toyota , Luxury Judges for the World Car of the Year Award have narrowed down the finalists to just four vehicles. Out of a total of 42 entries, only the Mercedes-Benz A-Class , Porsche Boxster / Cayman , Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT-86 and Volkswagen Golf remain standing. For Volkswagen , this marks the second consecutive year the company has had an entry among the finalists, and the fourth time since 2009. In order to qualify, a vehicle must be on sale on two continents during the span of time between January 1, 2013 and May 30, 2013. A panel of 66 journalists from 23 countries then vote on the finalists. Three vehicles have made the cut for the last round of voting on the 2013 World Performance Car as well, with the Cayman/Boxster and FR-S/BRZ/GT-86 running against the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta . Meanwhile, the Renault Zoe , Tesla Model S and Volvo V60 Plug-In Hybrid are duking it out for the World Green Car Award. Finally, the World Car Design of the Year Award is up for grabs between the Aston Martin Vanquish , Jaguar F-Type , and the Mazda6 . Check out the full press release below. Overall winners will be presented at the 2013 New York Auto Show .

Filed under: Concept Cars , Convertible , Performance , Geneva Motor Show , Videos , Toyota There’s nothing wrong with going topless. And Toyota is proving that its FT-86 (read: Scion FR-S / Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ ) coupe is just as excellent with its roof removed. It may only be a concept, but this FT-86 Open previews a new droptop from the Japanese automaker to round out the Toyobaru sports car family. We’re finally getting the chance to see the open-air FT-86 in person here at the Geneva Motor Show , and we’re already yearning to take it canyon-carving. Interestingly, the FT-86 retains the Toyota coupe’s two-plus-two seating arrangement (we’d prefer a proper roadster setup here), but things still look good for this droptop two-door. We’ll be curious to see how the car looks with its folding soft top in place (operated by fancy-shmancy electronics, by the way). As for production intent, rumors have been flying about a production Scion FR-S convertible, but until we hear it directly from Toyota. Consider our hopes in check but our fingers crossed. UPDATE: Wondering what the FT-86 Open Concept looks like with its hat on? Wonder no more – we’ve updated our gallery with shots of the concept with its roof up .

Filed under: Motorsports , Coupe , Performance , Toyota , UK , Racing It’s about time we saw someone cook up a legitimate race version of the delectable Toyota GT86 , and now it looks as if GPRM has done just that. The Buckingham-based race engineering team has built the creation you see here, complete with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder boxer cooked up by Nicholson McLaren Engines. The team says the new mill delivers between 360 and 400 horsepower to the rear wheels depending on final testing, which is a sight bit more than the 197 horses the naturally aspirated stock mill offers. The car will compete in GT4 events, including the Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Technically, the GPRM effort isn’t factory backed, but the team says the effort “has the blessing of Toyota Great Britain.” How could it not? You can check out the brief press release below below , and be sure to take a closer look at the machine in our gallery. Continue reading Toyota GT86 GT4 racer is ready for UK competition Toyota GT86 GT4 racer is ready for UK competition originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Marketing/Advertising , Videos , Scion , Subaru , Toyota Marketing can be a very strange business. Convincing a man or woman (or child, really) that they absolutely cannot live without the latest, greatest new bit of technology oftentimes takes a unique approach. In the “online film promoting the Toyota GT86 ” you’ll see below , created by agency Happiness Brussels, men are reverse-psychologied into thinking a new sports coupe will make them more masculine by getting their loved ones to hate them. Or something like that. We think. In any case, we suggest you watch the video below to see how much fun men can have with a GT86 – or Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ , presumably – at the expense of their significant others. Fair warning: There’s a potential Not Safe For Work moment in the ad: beware of a brief male butt shot about 44 seconds in. Marketing. Gotta love it. Unless you’re married to a man.

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Technology , Videos , Scion , Subaru , Toyota There’s no shame in not knowing what a limited slip differential is. After all, every budding car guy has a first time trying to parse Brian Beckman’s The Physics of Racing . (And many of us still don’t understand the entirety of it after multiple perusals.) So if you’re trying to wrap your mind around just what this Torsen thing is, there’s no excuse for not watching this new video from Scion . While it’s basic, it does explain the rudimentary physics behind a limited slip in just two minutes. If nothing else, it should get you started in looking for some more comprehensive information . Scroll down to watch the video. Continue reading Scion explains the FR-S coupe’s limited-slip differential Scion explains the FR-S coupe’s limited-slip differential originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Coupe , Toyota It’s pretty safe to say that the Toyota GT 86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ joint venture has been quite a success so far. Here at Autoblog, we’ve had nothing but nice things to say about the Toyobaru coupe, and it’s a similar story elsewhere in the automotive press. Toyota has certainly been keeping track of the car’s progress, and because of the success of this project, Autocar reports that the Japanese automaker is now more keen to do joint ventures in the future. Previously, Toyota had worked with PSA Peugeot-Citro

Filed under: Coupe , Performance , Plants/Manufacturing , Subaru , Toyota Finally. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for ever since Toyota and Subaru jointly announced their compact rear-wheel-drive sports car: production is now underway. With an official ceremony at Subaru’s Gunma Main Plant, attended by Toyota president Akio Toyoda, Subaru pushed the Big Red Button (quite literally, in case you were wondering) that sent BRZ and Toyota GT 86 coupes down the assembly line. And the event was captured in both still images and video for our viewing pleasure. Check out our high-res image gallery above, and see below for the video and official press release. Oh, and if you’re one of the lucky ones with a deposit down for either the Subaru or the Toyota’s Scion FR-S twin (America won’t get one with an interlocking rings badge), it’s officially time to consider making room in your garage. Continue reading Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT 86 production gets underway [w/video] Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT 86 production gets underway [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Motorsports , Coupe , Performance , Japan , Videos , Toyota We all tend to get a bit overzealous at times – we’ll call it part of human nature – and as many times as not, our tendencies to show off manifest themselves most when we’re behind the wheel of a hot new sports car. Like, say the brand new Toyota GT 86 , also known as the 2013 Scion FR-S here in the States, or, in Subaru form, the BRZ . Such is the case with the unlucky fellow you’ll see in the video embedded below. During what appears to be a drive event for Toyota’s new coupe, taking place on a wet track in what we believe is Japan, one driver exceeded his talent level in a bright red GT 86, sending it careening into a makeshift wall. The good news is that it was a low-speed mishap, which means nobody was injured and the car will need little more than a decent buffing. Or maybe a new fascia… either way, no big deal. See the video clip below . Continue reading Is this show-off the first to crash a Toyota GT 86? Is this show-off the first to crash a Toyota GT 86?